Many things can be a common sight during the winter here in New York. One is going out to your car and seeing it covered in ice and snow. When a driver encounters this situation, it is very important for them to properly clean off their car, including its windows and mirrors, prior to taking to the roads.
Now, New York state law doesn’t currently make it directly against the law to drive a vehicle that hasn’t been properly cleared of ice and snow. However, a behavior doesn’t have to be illegal to cause major safety problems out on the roads. There are various dangers an uncleared car can pose. For example, when a driver fails to clear snow and ice from their vehicle’s windows and mirrors prior to driving, it could significantly obstruct their view of the road and what is going on around their car. Impaired driver visibility is among the things that could result in major traffic collisions.
What do you think are some good ways for New York drivers to remind themselves of the importance of properly clearing their vehicle of snow and ice prior to taking it onto the roads?
Another thing not being directly illegal doesn’t necessarily prevent a type of car-related conduct from being is grounds for a personal injury claim. Thus, when it comes to car accidents, it can not only be important to look into whether any illegal conduct occurred, but also whether any negligent actions that aren’t directly against the law occurred. So, when a car crash victim suspects that their accident came about through unsafe conduct by another driver, whether that conduct is illegal or not, they may want to have a skilled attorney look into the crash and advise them on their legal options.
Source: WKBW, “Snow covered vehicles lead to dangerous driving conditions,” Hannah Buehler, Dec. 19, 2016